MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is responsible for the conservation and protection of wildlife species that are not considered game species and the natural communities that make up their habitats. The focus of the Program is on conservation and restoration of the 427 native plants and animals listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
Funding for the Program relies, in part, on individual contributions, NOT on general fund tax dollars. Your help does make a difference! It supports the field surveys, research, habitat management, regulatory review, and land protection for the hundreds of rare creatures and plants in the Bay State.
If you care about the future of our wildlife and wild places here in Massachusetts, you can contribute in one of several ways:
- Make a donation on your MA state income tax return (line 33a) for Endangered Wildlife Conservation.
Contributions by this method in 2017 were $312,297 by just over 23,000 individuals. (2016 – $302,603, 24,082 individuals contributed)
- Make a Direct Donation! (it’s tax deductible)Send a check payable to
“Comm. of MA-NHESP” and mail to:
MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
– OR –
Donate online with your credit card as a “Guest Customer” through MassFishHunt, MassWildlife’s licensing system. Direct donations through this method in 2017 totaled $7,891 dollars, up from $6103 in 2016.
There’s plenty of room for improvement!
Reflect on the success of the Bald Eagle restoration effort that began in 1982. This past year, a record-breaking 76 territorial eagle pairs were documented in Massachusetts! Observations from birders and other interested citizens played a big part in this documentation. MassWildlife depends on reports of eagle nests or observations of eagles carrying sticks from birders like you to monitor these magnificent birds.
MassWildlife and others are sure there are more eagle nests out there that haven’t been found or documented. For instance, who will find and confirm the first eagle nest on Cape Cod?!
Additional ways to support NHESP’S efforts can be found at www.mass.gov/service-details/support-endangered-species-conservation
Thank you for your support, whether it’s a donation, reporting observations or telling others about this important program that conserves wildlife for everyone to enjoy!
Remember – line 33a on your Massachusetts state tax return!
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Upcoming Field Trips
Wompatuck State Park, Hingham
Be prepared for a three-mile walk. Our target birds will be Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren and a variety of warblers including Louisiana Waterthrush. This trip will be canceled in the event of rain. Please contact the leader the night before if the forecast is for inclement weather. We will walk into the Holly Pond loop [...]
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery 536 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, United StatesBurrage Pond Wildlife Management Area (rescheduled from Saturday)
Hanson - Burrage Pond WMA Hawks Avenue, Hanson, MA, United StatesA 3 to 4 mile walk along level gravel paths along the woods edge, old cranberry bogs and reservoir. We will search for the locally breeding Sandhill Cranes and early migrants. The American Bittern is more often heard than seen and waterfowl should be plentiful.
Lost Pond, Brookline (Rescheduled from 4/20)
Brookline - Lost Pond Brookline, MA, United StatesA short, two mile loop over slightly hilly trails looking for resident woodland birds and early migrants, namely Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, kinglets, Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers, and possibly Great Horned Owl. We will also check the grassy slopes next to the pond and recycling center for sparrows and other grassland birds.
Olmsted Park and Leverett Pond, Brookline
Boston - Olmsted Park - Daisy Field 1 Willow Pond Road, Boston, MA, United StatesThis 90-minute walk is suitable for beginning birders as well as those more experienced. Co-sponsored by the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance and the Emerald Necklace Bird Club.